coastal economy. “These are the industries that create sustainable, year-round employment,” says Gregory Holmes, Director of Urban Development. “They complement our tourism base while adding stability.” GROWTH ALONG THE GATEWAY: U.S. 49 While downtown revitalization grabs headlines, much of Gulfport’s physical expansion is happening along Highway 49, a major north-south artery that connects the city to Interstate 10 and the rest of the Gulf South. The port’s defense and high-tech maritime companies connect Gulfport to a larger regional network that includes Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in nearby Pascagoula—the country’s largest shipyard for naval vessels—and a growing number of suppliers and service providers along the Seaway Industrial corridor. Add to that the expansion of Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, just a mile and a half from downtown, and the picture is clear: healthcare, maritime technology, and logistics now form the backbone of a diversified 116 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12
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